How to Be a Pro Gamer

These 10 tips should make you a better gamer, and enable you to reach the top. They are different than the usual advice to play consistently and to learn the rules of the game very well.

Different gamers have different ways to reach to the top. Nonetheless, whatever your style, you can still find this advice useful. If you have more tips you’d like to share, tweet them over to @MarkyB.

1. Step out from the crowd by improving your performance in any competitive situation.

Most professional players have reached the top by taking part in tournaments. This is different than Overwatch or League of Legends where you might attract attention by performing in a public fight.

The only way to get recognition from players who will want to team with you is by playing tournaments, gamebattles, wagers and scrims. You need to be aware of the fact that top teams won’t pick you up unless you’ve demonstrated your skills both online and at major gaming events.

2. Get ready for criticism

The professional gaming world is definitely a tough one to be in, and you’re going to notice this right off the bat. You have to understand from the very beginning that the other players are going to criticize you. Like all new players trying to work their way to the top, you’re going to have your share of getting roasted by others.

Every single move you’re going to make will be questioned, analyzed and eventually laughed at by people you may have taken as your role models. I’ve been subject to this kind of experience during my time in lower tier teams. However, it has only made me stronger and more determined to climb my way to the top.

3. You need to be a good sport.

As far as I’ve noticed, unless you are a prodigy, you’re going to have a hard time at getting noticed if you don’t set yourself apart from the crowd. I’ve heard many stories of people who’ve started their ascension by making friends with a pro player and getting recommended.

Keep in mind that you need to show respect to your fans, in order to make them respect you. The 13 year old school girl mentality isn’t going to take you anywhere, so forget about it.

4. Don’t be too keen on joining an organization.

Many young players make the mistake of getting fixated on becoming part of an organization. It’s easy to understand why you’d like to represent a brand, but you need to acknowledge this isn’t going to make you a better player.

As a matter of fact, the organization won’t be able to give you anything if you are the new kid on the block. Nobody cares that you’ve been part of an organization before, so you shouldn’t stress over it.

5. Be careful about the contracts you sign.

Joining an organization when you actually don’t need to is only one issue. It leads to another issue, which is to take care what kind of contracts you’re going to sign. While most people have good intentions, you wouldn’t be too happy to discover that you can’t pursue your career as you like because you’ve signed a year contract with someone.

Even when it comes to joining the best organization in the world, you should ensure you read and understand everything that’s written in your contract. This will keep you on the safe side.

6. Expect to make some expenses from your own pocket.

The sad reality is that most professional players have a history of paying out of their own pocket to attend various events. The ideal situation would be that your travel expenses, your equipment and your hotel would be paid for. However, this may not happen until you manage to get close to the top, so expect to spend some of your own money to attend these events.

7. Be ready to persevere for as long as needed.

Determination is one of the top attributes of a top player. I’ve had a lot of times when things didn’t go the way I expected them to.

Professional gamers needs to put up with a lot of disappointment, as they are constantly competing against people who are ready to do everything it takes to get to the top.

You need to be tough and determined to succeed, no matter how long it may take to get there. This is a side of professional gaming outsiders can’t really get. This isn’t all fun and games.

8. Constantly improve yourself.

As I’ve already told you, you’re going to get criticized a lot on your path to becoming a top player. Taking care of your personal development is one of the main ingredients for success.

Always look back at your gameplay via theater. This should enable you to realize what you could have done better or what you shouldn’t have done in that scenario. Most pro players do this exercise all the time, because they know this is an extremely effective way to improve their play.

9. Watch pro players and learn from them.

Watching the footage and the streams of pro players is another great way to improve your skills. Pay attention to the way these players move and communicate. Their general behavior may give you priceless hints on what you need to do to get to the top. Gamers come from all backgrounds as this post from Amiqus shows.

10. Beware of burnout.

Last but not least, don’t kill your body and your spirit by playing 16 hours a day.

I agree you need to spend long hours playing Call of Duty in order to reach success. However, if you play too much and you don’t get enough sleep and enough food, you’re going to become burned out. There’s plenty of good advice on the internet about how long you should play for avoiding burnout and exhaustion. Read these studies and apply their findings to your own routine.